Francois Hollande, the President of France, will be the Chief Guest of the parade.
For the first time in the history of Republic Day parades, a 76-member French Army contingent led by a French military band comprising 48 musicians, will march on Rajpath and present a ceremonial salute to the President of India.
After a gap of 26 years, an Army dog squad drawn from the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) will also take part, along with their handlers.
For the first time, the parade will see an ex-servicemen tableau where Army veterans will showcase their role in nation building.
The Indian Army's missile firing capability T-90 "Bhishma" tank, Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP II (Sarath), Mobile Autonomous Launcher of the BrahMos Missile System, Akash Weapon System, Smerch Launcher Vehicles and Integrated Communication Electronic Warfare System (ICEWS) will be the main draw in the mechanised columns.
An Indian Air Force tableau, with the theme "Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations by IAF: In Service of the Nation and Beyond" will showcase models of C-17 Globemaster, C-130 Hercules and MI-17V5 aircraft, emphasising its use in the Force's rescue and relief operations in Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Yemen and Nepal.
(REOPENS DEL116)
As per tradition, after unfurling of the National Flag, the National Anthem will be played with a 21-gun salute. The parade will then commence and the President will take the salute.
The parade will be commanded by Lt General Rajan Ravindran, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area while Major General Rajesh Sahai, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Delhi Area will be the parade Second-in-Command.
The marching contingents of Army will include horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, the Parachute Regiment, the Corps of Signals, the Rajput Regiment, the Garhwal Rifles, the Assam Regiment, 11 Gorkha Rifles and Remount Veterinary Corps Dog Squad.
The marching contingent of Navy comprising 144 young sailors will be led by Lieutenant Commander Anil Raina, while the Indian Air Force contingent comprising 144 men will be led by Flt Lt Ashish Mann.
The Paramilitary and other auxiliary civil forces will include contingents from the Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, Indian Coast Guard, an all women contingent of Central Reserve Police Force, Railway Protection Force, Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme.
They will also showcase country's progress in different fields, particularly floats from Goa, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam.
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